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Got a serious Industrial Relations problem? You need serious people to fix it - the SAMS Mob!

As the experienced SAMS Mob boss, Steve Shearer, says "We know our stuff, we don't muck around and we can play hardball as well as anybody. We fight hard for the best outcome for our clients' business."  

But most IR issues require our softer side and that's when we use our people skills and technical expertise and experience to work through the issue and secure the best outcome for our clients.

Industrial Relations claims and disputes have been on the increase under the Rudd-Gillard IR laws and to help you handle this SAMS provides a wide range of professional Industrial Relations advice and support services. Our extensive IR experience in a range of industries, enables us to provide our clients with "Outside the Square Innovative Solutions" to their Industrial Relations issues.

Resolving Wage & Dismissal Claims or Industrial Disputes:

SAMS has an excellent record in resolving employees' Wage and Dismissal claims and in helping employers through Industrial Disputes. We provide a realistic assessment of your case and work to resolve matters quickly and without fuss. We recommend that you seek our advice before making decisions that may lead to such claims and disputes.

Unfair and Wrongful Dismissal Claims and General Protection Claims:

Unfair or Wrongful Dismissal claims and General Protection Claims can be very disruptive to the business and its operation and if handled badly can lead to further problems with other employees. They can also be very expensive, due to settlement payouts and the internal business costs in responding to them. The federal and state dismissal laws are complex and employers should take care and seek advice BEFORE dismissing anyone. SAMS can advise you on how to minimize the risk of a Dismissal Claim or General Protections Claim and how to respond, including representing you in defending the claim.

Industrial Agreements with Employees:

Wages are a major business cost so you need to strike the balance between providing attractive wages and conditions for your employees and ensuring your business is competitive and viable. SAMS has a wealth of experience in helping our clients achieve this with employee Agreements that meet the business needs, at competitive rates.

Get the Best Wages and Productivity Outcomes through Agreements: The only legal alternative to Agreements is to comply wholly with the Award(s), which can be very hard to do given that every company’s needs are different. There is no point having an Agreement if it does not provide some tangible benefit for the business, whether its securing industrial stability, productivity or just wages certainty for the life of the Agreement. The correct legal procedures must be followed before any Agreement can be approvedby the authorities.

SAMS can help you in three ways:  

1. Advise you on developing your own Agreements;
2. Develop Agreements for you; or
3. Manage the whole process for you, including negotiating with employees or the union(s).

Industrial Representation:

SAMS can represent your business in Industrial Relations matters, including dealing with the authorities such as the FWO or FWA, in negotiations with unions and/or employees, in responding to Dismissal and Wage/Back-pay claims and in responding to Workers Compensation Claims.

Current Award Rates and Advice:

Interpretation of awards and complying with their provisions is a continual challenge for employers. Getting this wrong can be very costly for your business and failure to keep-up-to-date with wage rates can lead to costly back-pay claims. Employees are able to claim back-pay for up to 6 years from the date of their claim! Many Back-Pay Claims are invalid or incorrect and SAMS can help you resolve them and with advice on the wages you should be paying - to avoid further claims.

Check Your Exposure to Claims: SAMS IR Compliance Audit

SAMS can perform a basic wage Award Compliance audit and give you an idea of any exposure and where your rates sit as compared with the relevant Award(s). Many Businesses are exposed because their base rates of pay are wrong OR because they apply them or the Penalty Rates incorrectly.

Get it Right From The Time You Employ Someone:

The most effective employment process actually starts with the employment stage itself. So setting up the employment relationship correctly, with a little bit of paperwork,  will save many headaches later on. The IR system is complicated and the consequences of ignoring the rules or making a mistake can be quite serious. If you are hiring a new employee, considering terminating an employee or just have some general questions regarding the overall employment relationship call SAMS for advice.